Revolving shovel



- G. E. TURNER REVOLVING SHOVEL Filed Jan. 5. 1926 INVENTOR.

A TTORNE-YJ Patented Oct. 26, 1926. i

UNITED stares GEORGE E. TURNER, OF NEW LEXINGTON; OHIO.

REVOLVING .SIIOVEL.

Application filed. January This invention relates to revolving shovels audit more particularly relates to the con- .nection between the stationary frame and the revolving frame of the machine. In this type of the machinethere is a large stationary ,frame'member V and revoluble frame member supported by the stationary ,member, the revolving frame member being journaled upon a pin carried by the stationary frame memberand being also usually supported upon a circular series of rollers mounted upon the stationary frame member. The ,revoluble frame member carries the shoveland its boom and the operating mechanism for the same including either an electric motor or steam engine, andhas the shovel and boom'project a considerable distance beyond the revoluble frame member,

and, being subjectedtoexcessive strains in the work of excavating or digging it is apparent that there will necessarily be excessive vertical and lateral strains near the center of the machine where the revoluble and stationary members are j ournaled together by a hol- '1 ow pin. In this type of machine there is employed a hollow shaft which extends through the hollow pin which carries at its ends gearing meshing with other gearing on the jrespective frame members for the purpose of driving the wheels of the truck. Also in this type of machine it is usual to carry the conductor wires rel-um electric motor where an electric motor is employed, through the hollow pin; and, in "the event that a steam" engine is employed asthe motivepower, it is usual to carry through this pinthe pipes which furnish the water to the engine. Diffic'ulty haslbeen experienced in holding the pi'nin true perpendicular relation with the frame members due tothe excessive lateral and vertical strains, and in constructions heretofore used it is a common thing for the ournal p n to become loose 1n the bore of the stationary frame member which carries it due to the excessive strains brought upon it. and to move both vertically and laterally with relation to the movable frame member which results in disalignment of the gearing which drives the truck wheels and rupture wire, where an electricmotor is employed or rupture of the water connections which supply water to a steam motor when. such a form of motoris used, and has also resulted in loosening of the bushing in the bearin on the'revoluble frame member. These treiiblee of the conduitswhich carries the electric.

.5, 1926. Serial vN0. 79 440.

hate been due principallyto the fact that owing to themanner of connecting the'center pin which forms the journal for the "revoluble frame memberto the stationary 1 frame member it is not practicable to secure the pin the stationary frame in such a way to prevent vertical and sidewise movement of the pin.,the trouble being due principally to the fact that wear occurs between the pin and the bore inwhich the pin wasplaced so asto in time permitconsiderable lateral and vertical movement of the pin under strains and stress brought upon it. So serious has been this trouble thatit has resulted, with electrically operatedshovels, in the current being short circuited or grounded and in. some instances resultinginthe explosion of the oil surrounding the commutator and'cons quent loss of life to persons operating on or aboutthe machine. 7

The object of myjimprovement is to over ,come' these difficulties in the manner that will hereinafter be explained more fully.

In the accompanying drawing the figure is a verticalsection throughthe journal or connection between the stationary and revoluble frame members, onlyjso much of the members beingshownas is necessary to explain the invention.

Referring to the drawing, 1 indicates a portionof'the stationary frame member and a porti on of the upper revoluble member, "theparts shown being the castings to which the frame members proper are secured. The

rollers and roller frames and trackswhich are placed between "the stationary and revoluble frame members are not shown as thatis a construction which is familiar to those versed in this art.

The stationary frame member is formed with a-"t-aprered bore as indicated at 3 and there is fitted in this bore the lower tapered portion of a pin 4. The lower end of the pin projects beyond the lower end of the tapered bore and is'threaded to receive a nut 15 which is screwed thereon as tightly as possi-' ble to draw the taperedpin firmly in the taperedfbore. It "is found in practice that after the nut has once been firmly tightened it remains so and will at all times hold the taperedpin firmly and rigidly in perpen-M dicular relation with respect to the stationary frame member. I i

The revoluble frame member, 2 is jour-. naled upon the upper straight portion of the pin; being preferably ptevided with a bush ing 2 the upper end of which has an external flange 2" which is seated on a shoulder on the frame member 2 formed by a small counter-bore at the upper end of the main bore. The upper end of the pin is externally threaded to receive a nut 17, a metallic washer or ring 19 being preferably interposed between the nut and the upper end of the frame member 2. This nut 17 may be adjusted from time to time to compensate for the natural wear which occurs between the supporting rolls and their tracks before referred to.

The hollow .pin 4 is formed at the upper (not shown) to form a driving connection to thewheels of the carrying trucks so that the machine may be moved both forwardly or rearwardly by its own power.

In the present instance I have shown extending through the hollow shaft 7 a conduit 5 carrying the wires- 6 which carry the current for the electric motor mounted upon 'the' frame 2 which operates the shovel devices. As the upper frame member rotates or oscillates the conduitand its wires must also rotate within the hollow, shaft. The conduit 5 has at its upper end a head 10 to enclose the wires as they leave the con- 7 duit and protect the same as far as possible from wear and breaka e. The commutator 11 is located at the lower end of the conduitv 5 within a box 12 which contains oil, the brushes of the commutator being indicated at 13. The box 12 is supported on a bracket 14 which in turn is secured to the stationary base member 1; The commutator neck 11 projects through the bracket and is secured to the conduit by set screws 11" and is also threaded to receive the nuts 14 to secure the commutator in position on the bracket. The wires 6 pass directly from the commutator into the conduit 5 and it is at that point where the wires pass into the conduit and where the wires are, secured to the brushes that the danger of breakage has existed in the .old structures referred to causing grounding or short circuiting which 'is apt to result in the explosion of oil.

By having the pin member anchored firmly in the stationary base in the manner described there is avoided any lateral or vertical movement of the pin relatively to the stationary base thereby insuring the wires and their conduits from wear and breakage. Further, by this manner of rigmovable frame member, thus eliminating anything but the ordinary wear whlch occurs between the supporting rollers and their tracks.

Another advantage that exists in mainbeen experienced, due to the strainsand stresses and consequent disalignment of the center pin, with the flange 2" breaking away from the bushing with the consequent dropping of the bushing on the pin. This difficulty has been overcome by the present arrangement.

While I have shown in the present instance a cable or conduit for electric wires passing through the center p in yet the advantages of my improved pm are. equally applicable to cases in which a water pipe is passed through the pin for the purposes of supplying water to a steam bOllBI when steam is employed as the motive power.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a machine of the character de scribed, the combination of a stationary base with a revoluble member and tapered pin member forming a journal for said revolu ble member, wires for high tension current extending through the central portion of said pin member, means for rigidly locking the said pin member to said base member after parts or the mechanism have become worn whereby lateral and vertical movement of said'pin member will be eliminated thereby protecting said wires against rupture and breakage.

2. In a machine of the character specified, the combination ofstationary and revoluble members, said stationary member having a tapered bore, a tapered pin member inserted within said tapered bore, the upper portion of said pin member forming the journal for said revoluble member, said pin member being formed with a vertical opening, a hollow shaft extending within said pin member, wires for high tension current placed within said shaft, means for anchoring the pin member within the tapered bore against vertical and lateral movement and means for adj ustably securing the revoluble member on the upper portion of said pin member, thereby protecting the wires against rupture and breakage. j

In a machine of the character specified, the combination of a stationary frame with a revoluble member, said stationary memher having a tapered bore, a hollow tapered pin member inserted within said bore, said pin member being formed with internal extended bearing surfaces at the upper and lower parts thereof and external bearing surfaces for said revoluble member, a per forat-ed shaft Within said pin member, Wires for high tension current Within said shaft, means at lower part of said pin member for anchoring same Within said tapered bore, an adjustable attaching means at upper part thereof for securing the revoluble member on said pin member thereby protecting the Wires at the upper and lower portions of said shaft against rupture and breakage.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 29th day of December, 1925.

GEORGE E. TURNER. 

